When you move into a large rental house in Fort Collins after having lived in an apartment or condo, you may wonder how you are going to furnish so much space without spending too much.
Furnishing your living spaces does not have to mean you need to blow your budget. Here are five budget-friendly tips for furnishing a large rental home.
If you want to be budget-friendly, that means you need a budget.
Take a look at your finances. Be honest. How much can you spend on furnishing your rental house? Then, decide how you want to divide your budget. Will you split it by room, by furniture and decor, or by supplies for building your own furniture?
Once you make your budget, be sure to leave some wiggle room. Projects usually cost more than expected, so do yourself a favor now and plan to spend only 75-80{ec1d25302c0c3e829886c092caa623e779a888dbf9e1057900a08c9ab9a85bb1} of your budget. Then, when you need to unexpectedly repair a purchase or find that shipping is more than expected, you will still have enough.
Make sure you know what style you want before you begin spending money to furnish your rental house. You want your home to be a comfortable place that reflects your personality, after all—not a hodgepodge of items chosen on a whim.
If you’re not sure what your style is, you can take online quizzes. Consider those a helpful starting point, and then dig a little deeper.
Try getting on Instagram or Pinterest and start saving or pinning décor photos that appeal to you. After a while, go to your saved list or board and see if there is a theme that emerges.
Do you gravitate towards neutrals or bright pops of color? Do you like simple and clean, classic and ornate, or some bohemian flair? Are you drawn to specific textures? Do your photos have primarily cool colors (greens, blues, and purples) or warm colors (reds, oranges, and yellows)? Are there specific brands that you keep saving?
Once you’ve discovered your style, you are ready to decorate your rental home!
One of the best ways to save money when furnishing your rental is to buy secondhand furniture and décor for a budget-friendly style. Use local thrift stores and online marketplaces instead of buying brand-new pieces.
When you look at thrift stores, keep in mind or write down on a list exactly what items you’re looking for so that you don’t buy something unnecessary. Consider what you’re willing to do to improve a piece of furniture. If you're able to sand and paint a table or replace knobs on a dresser, your options suddenly explode.
You can search Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for affordable items in your area. Once you know your style, try typing brand names into the search bar instead of something generic like “dresser.” Don’t forget to check out Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist’s free sections!
If you are creative, try some DIY guides. For example, you can often find free pallets, and there are hundreds of ways to repurpose them into beautiful furniture or useful décor! Try some of these options for starters.
Consider using unconventional pieces for furniture. Old crates or trunks can make artistic accent tables. You can make headboards out of any number of inexpensive materials. All you need for a chalkboard is a piece of wood and some chalk paint.
You can also think of creative ways to spruce up a room. If you don’t like the paint color, consider hanging a tapestry or large piece of artwork to make an accent wall, and then use decorative pillows or pictures elsewhere in the room to pull colors from your accent wall.
If creativity is not your strong point, consider enlisting help from a friend. Your options are as vast as your imagination.
While it’s easy to want your rental home to come together perfectly in a week, give yourself some time. When you’re furnishing on a budget, you might have to wait a bit longer for that sale or to find the perfect second-hand sofa. Make sure you love what you buy, and don’t settle for something you’ll be sick of looking at in three months.
Know your style, stick to your budget, wait it out—and the results will be well worth it. Happy decorating!
Our team is here to help you find your next home. Feel free to call and schedule a showing or start your search right here.
